Tactical garments or personal items with one or more integrated utility wires

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing with a storage compartment and a utility wire disposed within the storage compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/447,055 filed Jan. 17, 2017, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to utility wires and more particularlyrelates to one or more utility wires embedded within a garment orpersonal item.

BACKGROUND

Utility wires are used as garrote wires, sewing tools, a suture tool,fishing lines, sawing tools, restraints, and the like. The wires areuseful against tensile and compressive forces. The wire can be made invarious sizes, and the size of the wire is measured in gauges. Wiregauge is the measurement of wire diameter. A common designation is theBritish Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) that corresponds to an imperial unitand a metric unit of measurement. The SWG can range from 7/0 to 50,though there is no limit to the diameter size of a wire. The preferredgauge will depend on the intended use of the wire.

The wires are generally without handles on either end. However, handlesgenerally only further frustrate storing wire because the handles willbulge in a concealed and inconspicuous place. In some situations, thewire may be needed for covert operations where movement or noise mayalert the presence of others. Fumbling around in a backpack, pantspocket, or other clothing accessory could give away a person's position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar oridentical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/orcomponents other than those illustrated in the drawings, and someelements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments.Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn toscale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singularand plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment with anintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment integratedutility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4A depicts a magnified view of a tactical garment integratedutility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4B depicts a magnified view of a tactical garment integratedutility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5A depicts a perspective view of a handle of the tactical garmentintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 5B depicts a perspective view of a handle of the tactical garmentintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment with anintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 6B depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment with anintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 6C depicts a perspective view of a tactical garment with anintegrated utility wire in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below are embodiments of tactical garments and/or personalitems with one or more integrated utility wires. As used herein, theterms “wire,” “utility wire,” and “selectively removable wire” areinterchangeable and refer to a thin, sometimes flexible single orinterwoven multitude of wires of varying gauges. Also used herein, theterm “tactical garment” refers to an article of clothing, personalaccessories, and other everyday objects with a use beyond covering abody part. In some instances, the utility wire may be used as a garrote,sewing tool, suture, fishing lines, saw, restraint, and the like. Theutility wire can be disposed, integrated, or concealed anywhere in or onclothing, personal accessories, and everyday objects. For example, theutility wire can be concealed or hidden in a pouch, a pocket, placket,label, lapel, hem, collar, cuff, seam, or under a flap to name a few.The utility wire, when disposed in the garment, can have a straightconfiguration, a coiled configuration, a serpentine configuration, afree-form configuration, or any other suitable configuration. Theutility wire is separable (e.g., removable) from the clothing, personalaccessories, and other everyday objects.

In some embodiments, the tactical garments with the integrated utilitywire may be a garment with a compartment embedded within the garment.The compartment may be temporary or permanent. The compartment may be apocket, pouch, flap, cross-stitching, or other compartment made ofmaterial attached to the garment. The compartment can be closed to housea selectively removable wire by a variety of methods or fasteners. Thecompartment may be temporary because the owner may detach the wire fromthe compartment in a time of need, such as self-defense. The compartmentmay be temporary because it is configured to tear away from the garmentwith sufficient force exerted on the wire. In other embodiments, thecompartment may be permanent and allow the owner to reload thecompartment with the wire. One benefit to a dedicated compartment forthe selectively removable wire is easy access to a garrote or restraint,and the user would be able to quickly retrieve the utility wire from thestored location. The selectively removable wire may be bound within thecompartment by adhesive, woven material, welded, or another temporarybinding method. A used herein, the term “user” refers to an individualwho is wearing or carrying the tactical garment. The wire may also becoupled to at least two handles on either end. In some embodiments, thehandles help provide a firm grip on either end of the utility wire. Afirm grip on the handles can ensure a user's grasp of the handles doesnot slip, especially in an emergency. In other instances, only one endof the wire may include a handle.

The tactical garment may be a variety of clothing including an armband,an arm warmer, a bracelet, a necklace, jewelry, a glove, a sleeve, ashoulder pad, an elbow pad, a belt, suspenders, a coat, a sport coat, ajacket, a flak jacket, a flight jacket, a military jacket, a vest, agilet, a blazer, a windbreaker, a sweater, a hoodie, a shirt, a t-shirt,a v-neck shirt, a crew neck shirt, a polo shirt, a turtle neck, a longsleeve shirt, a short sleeve shirt, an undershirt, a parka, a raincoat,a tunic, a dress, a shoe, a sneaker, a boot, a slipper, footwear,hosiery, a leg warmer, leggings, tights, stockings, a sandal, a sock, asuit, a gown, a hat, a visor, a bra, a baseball cap, a helmet, a scarf,a beanie, a mask, an earmuff, a headscarf, a compression garmet, shorts,trousers, pants, sweatpants, cargo pants, henley, tank tops, bandana,swim trunks, purses, computer cases, cell phone cases, wallets, keychains, scarf, underwear, a swimsuit, jeans, a one-piece suit, a bodysuit, a body stocking, a flight suit, a jumpsuit, a poncho, a cloak, ashawl, a wrap, a skirt, a jersey, a brace, a diving suit, a tracksuit,parachute pants, tactical wear, tactical shirts, tactical pants, andmilitary fatigues.

The utility wire can be made of any suitable material. Exemplarysuitable materials include ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene(UHMWP) threads such as Spectra Shield, Dyneema, and Dacron, metals suchas stainless steel and titanium, rope or cordage, fishing line, pianowire, guitar strings, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, andthe like. The utility wire, or a portion thereof, can have a coatingmaterial thereon. For example, the wire can have a rubber coating oneither end of the wire to facilitate two-handed gripping of the wire.

The utility wire can also include a handle feature that facilitateshandling/separation of the utility wire from the clothing, personalaccessory, or other everyday objects. The handle feature can be, forexample, a rubber coating on one or both ends of the wire to facilitategripping of the wire. The handle feature can also be a tab, a knot, aneye, a bar, and the like.

The utility wire can be any suitable length. In certain embodiments, theutility wire can have a length ranging from about 5 centimeters to about100 meters. In one exemplary embodiment, the utility wire may be about 1to 4 meters in length. The utility wire can have any suitable thickness.In some embodiments, the utility wire can have a thickness ranging fromabout 1 micrometer to about 5 centimeters.

These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be described in moredetail through reference to the accompanying drawings in the detaileddescription of the disclosure that follows. This brief introduction,including section titles and corresponding summaries, is provided forthe reader's convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of theclaims or the proceedings sections. Furthermore, the techniquesdescribed above and below may be implemented in a number of ways and ina number of contexts. Several example implementations and contexts areprovided with reference to the following figures, as described below inmore detail. However, the following implementations and contexts are buta few of many.

FIG. 1 shows a garment 120 with an integrated utility wire 100. In someinstances, the garment 120 may be a jacket 102. The utility wire 104 maybe embedded in the jacket 102. In other instances, the integratedutility wire 100 may not be coupled to a jacket 102, but may be bound toanother article of clothing, personal accessory, or everyday object. Thejacket 102 may be made of Kevlar, neoprene, cotton, denim, flax, wool,ramie, silk, leather, synthetic material, or some combination thereof.The jacket 102 may include a compartment 108. As used herein, “temporarycompartment” and “compartment” are interchangeable and refer to aseparate section of a structure or a container in which certain itemscan be kept separate from others. The compartment 108 is not limited toan enclosed space. In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 1, thecompartment 108 is a break-away cross-stitching. In some instances, thecompartment 108 may be a permanent compartment. For example, a permanentcompartment may be embodied by a flap that temporarily binds to thejacket 102. The flap may open and close by a fastener to allow access tothe wire. In other instances, the compartment 108 may be a pocket,pouch, placket, label, lapel, hem, collar, cuff, seam. One benefit to atemporary compartment is the quick and easy accessibility of a utilitywire 104. For example, the compartment 108 may be a piece of materialconfigured to break-away from the jacket 102 when the wire 104 is pulledfrom the compartment 108.

As seen in FIG. 1, the utility wire 104 is bound to the jacket 102 bythe compartment 108. In some embodiments, the utility wire 104 may beexposed on the exterior of a jacket 102 or another garment 120. Theutility wire 104 may be a single strand of material or multipleinterwoven strands of material. The utility wire 104 may couple to ahandle 106. In some instances, the utility wire 104 may have multiplehandles. As seen in FIG. 1, the handle 106 may be exposed outside thecompartment 108. Exposing the handle 106 outside the compartment 108 maybe beneficial because the user can easily grip the handle to remove theutility wire 104 from the compartment 108. The handle 106 may bind tothe wire by various methods or mechanisms. For example, the wire 104 mayhave one or more threaded ends. The handle 106 may also have a cavity,as seen in some embodiments, where the interior walls may be threaded.The wire 104 and handle 106 can be bound at the cavity and threaded end.In other instances, the wire 104 and handle 106 may be bound byadhesive, weld, fastener, or other coupling method.

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a utility wire 104 bound to two handles106. As shown in FIG. 2, the utility wire 104 is flexible. In otherinstances, the utility wire 104 may be rigid. The handles 106 bound toeither end of the utility wire 104 may be cylindrical. The handles 106may be of varying shapes and sizes. For example, the handles 106 may bea polymer coating to the ends of the utility wire 104 or the handles mayhave indentures configured for a user's hands.

FIG. 3 depicts a compartment 122 that covers the utility wire (notpictured). The compartment 122, in this embodiment, is a flap coupled toa jacket 102. The compartment 122 may be configured to rotate about they-axis 110. In some instances, the temporary compartment 108 is a singlelayer of material bound by stitching to the jacket 102. In otherinstances, the compartment 122 is multiple layers of fabric. Thecompartment 122 may permanently attach to the jacket 102 at the y-axis110. The compartment 122 may permanently attach to the jacket 102 at they-axis 110 side, but may temporarily attach to the jacket 102 on eachother side by a binding mechanism. For example, the compartment 122 maybind to the jacket 102 by hook-and-loop, zipper, thread, or othernon-permanent method.

The compartment 122, as depicted in FIG. 3, provides a spacespecifically designed to store a utility wire. The compartment 122 maybe multiple layers where the utility wire is woven into the material. Inthe same embodiment, the compartment 122 may hide any handle attached tothe utility wire as well. One benefit of concealing the handle and theutility wire is to be inconspicuous. The compartment 122 may tear awayfrom the jacket 102, thus exposing the utility wire. Multiple utilitywires 104 may be embedded in a jacket 102. As seen in FIG. 3, the jacket102 may also have a slot 112 configured to temporarily store a utilitywire 104. The slot 112 may be reloaded with the utility wire 104 if thewire is removed. The utility wire 104 may have a handle 106 that is anO-ring. The utility wire 104 may be bound within the slot 112 by one endbeing anchored within the slot 112. For example, the utility wire 104end not projecting from the slot 112 may be bound within the slot 112 byadhesive, stitching, or other non-permanent method. The binding withinthe slot 112 is configured to break-away from the utility wire 104 whena force acts in parallel with the temporary slot's 112 opening. Thebinding, for example, can be a mild adhesive that binds to the utilitywire 104 within the slot 112 and fractures when the utility wire 104 ispulled in a lateral direction.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict magnified views of the utility wire 104. Theutility wire 104, as shown in FIG. 4A, has a serrated edge. Serratededges may be useful to cut through surfaces. In other embodiments, as inFIG. 4B, the utility wire 104 may be smooth around the wire. Smootherwire may be easier to transport as well as provide safer handling for auser than a serrated edge.

The utility wire 104, as depicted in FIG. 4A, has two handles 106. Insome instances, the utility wires may have more or less than two handles106. In the same embodiment, the handles 106 have a rounded, flat sideand a side with indentures. Each indenture may fit a finger of the user.In other embodiments, as seen in FIG. 4B, the handles may be handles 106that bind parallel to the utility wire 104. A parallel handle may bebeneficial because storage can be more compact within a tight space. Thehandles 106 may be a coating to the utility wire, such as a solidifiedrubber surface coating the ends of the utility wire 104.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict two embodiments of handles 106 that may attach toutility wire. In some instances, as in FIG. 5A, the handle may have aseries of ridges 126. The series of ridges 126 may allow a user toposition their hands appropriately to avoid any blockage of the utilitywire (not pictured). In other embodiments, as in FIG. 5B, the handle 106may be rounded. The handle 106 may have a cavity 124. The cavity 124, aspreviously discussed, may have a threaded interior to bind to a utilitywire with a threaded end. In some instances, the cavity 124 may beinjected with an adhesive to couple the utility wire.

The utility wire may be embedded in various different tactical garments120. In some embodiments, as in FIGS. 6A-6C, the tactical garments 120may be pants 114, shirt 116, or hat 118. In other embodiments, thetactical garments 120 may be a variety of other clothing, accessories,or personal items. Each tactical garment 120 has a compartment. Thecompartments may be temporary or permanent. In FIG. 6A, the compartmentsare a flap 108A and a channel 108B. The flap 108A may bind to the pants114 by hook and loop attachment, buttons, zipper, or other temporaryfastener. The flap 108A may be configured to tear away from the pants114 with sufficient force. For example, if a user grabs one end of theflap 108A and asserts a force perpendicular to the surface of the pants114, the flap 108A may be removed. Under the flap 108A can exist a spacefor the utility wire that is embedded within the pants 114. For example,the utility wire may be disposed within a cavity defined between twolayers of material forming the pants. The cavity may include at leastone open end, which may be covered by a flap, to provide access to theutility wire disposed within the cavity. In some instances, the cavitymay be a channel or the like embedded within the garment. The channel108B may be configured to conceal the utility wire. The channel 108B maybe configured to tear away from the pants 114 to reveal the utilitywire. In some embodiments, the channel 108B may have opposing ends opento receive a utility wire. The wire may have a handle configured toremove the utility wire with sufficient force acting in a paralleldirection as the channel 108B. In some instances, as in FIG. 6B, thetactical garment is a shirt 116. The shirt 116 may have a slot 112,similar to the slot in FIG. 3, configured to receive a utility wire 104with a handle 106. Pulling the handle 106 may remove the utility wire104 from the slot 112. The utility wire 104 may be anchored within thecompartment 108 by binding one end within the compartment 108. Thebinding, for example, can be a mild adhesive that binds to the utilitywire 104 within the slot 112 and fractures when the utility wire 104 ispulled in a lateral direction. In other embodiments, as in FIG. 6C, thetactical garment may be a hat 118. The hat 118 may have a compartment108. The compartment 108 may be cross-stitching, similar to thestitching in FIG. 1, configured to break-away when a force pulls thehandle 106 of the utility wire 104 in a direction away from the hat 118.

The tactical garments and the temporary compartments are not limited toa particular compartment or structure of temporary compartment. Thetemporary compartments described may be interchangeable on anyparticular garment. As previously discussed, the temporary compartmentsare configured to store the utility wire in an inconspicuous place. Thetemporary compartment may be on the interior or exterior of the garment.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described,numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within thescope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality describedwith respect to a particular device or component may be performed byanother device or component. Further, while specific devicecharacteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure mayrelate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, althoughembodiments have been described in language specific to structuralfeatures and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that thedisclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actsdescribed. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed asillustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditionallanguage, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,”unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within thecontext as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include,certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditionallanguage is not generally intended to imply that features, elements,and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

1. An article of clothing, comprising: a storage compartment attached toand/or embedded within the article of clothing; and a utility wiredisposed within the storage compartment.
 2. The article of clothing ofclaim 1, wherein the utility wire attaches to at least one handle, theat least one handle has a cavity configured to receive a first end ofthe utility wire.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein thestorage compartment is removable from the article of clothing.
 4. Thearticle of clothing of claim 1, wherein the utility wire comprises asingle strand of material.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of fabric layers, wherein the storagecompartment is embedded between the plurality of fabric layers.
 6. Thearticle of clothing of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment furthercomprises an opening for accessing the utility wire.
 7. The article ofclothing of claim 6, wherein the storage compartment further comprisesan access flap to cover the opening.
 8. An article, comprising: agarment; a compartment embedded within the garment; and a selectivelyremovable wire with a first end and a second end, wherein theselectively removable wire is temporarily disposed within thecompartment.
 9. The article of claim 8, wherein the selectivelyremovable wire is serrated.
 10. The article of claim 8, wherein theselectively removable wire is smooth.
 11. The article of claim 8,wherein the selectively removable wire further comprises a first end anda second end, the selectively removable wire attaches to at least onehandle at the first end and/or the second end.
 12. The article of claim8, wherein the compartment comprises stitching tethered to theselectively removable wire.
 13. The article of claim 8, wherein thecompartment comprises a fastener selected from the group consisting of azipper, buttons, snaps, hook and loop, grommets, and rivets.
 14. Thearticle of claim 8, wherein the selectively removable wire furthercomprises at least one handle, the at least one handle comprises amaterial selected from the group consisting of metal alloy, plastic,rubber, and wood.
 15. The article of claim 8, wherein the selectivelyremovable wire comprises a material selected from the group of metalalloy, nylon, polyethylene, Kevlar, and cloth.
 16. The article of claim8, wherein the compartment is removable.
 17. The article of claim 8,wherein the compartment is porous.
 18. The article of claim 8, whereinthe compartment is solid.
 19. A method for detaching a utility wire froma tactical garment, a temporary compartment embedded within the garment,the utility wire having a first end and a second end, wherein theutility wire couple to the temporary compartment via a bindingmechanism, and at least one handle attached to the utility wire, themethod comprising: destroying the binding mechanism such that theutility wire and the temporary compartment are separated.
 20. The methodfor detaching a utility wire from a tactical garment of claim 19,wherein the binding mechanism is selected from the group of adhesive,woven fiber, mechanical weld, and magnets.